Uplink beamforming between an airborne transceiver and a terrestrial transceiver

ABSTRACT

An aerial vehicle wirelessly transmits data that indicates an antenna aperture beamwidth for an airborne wireless transmitter. The aerial vehicle wirelessly receives an uplink beamforming instruction and an uplink power instruction. The aerial vehicle beamforms an uplink wireless signal responsive to the uplink beamforming instruction. The aerial vehicle amplifies the beamformed uplink wireless signal responsive to the uplink power instruction. The aerial vehicle wirelessly transmits the beamformed and amplified uplink wireless signal from the airborne wireless transmitter.

RELATED CASES

This United States Patent Application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. 17/538,176 that was filed on Nov. 30, 2021 and isentitled “UPLINK BEAMFORMING BETWEEN AN AIRBORNE TRANSCEIVER AND ATERRESTRIAL TRANSCEIVER.” U.S. patent application Ser. 17/538,176 ishereby incorporated by reference into this United States PatentApplication.

U.S. patent application Ser. 17/538,176 is a continuation of U.S. Pat.No. 11,239,903 B2 that was filed on Apr. 8, 2020 and is entitled “UPLINKBEAMFORMING BETWEEN AN AIRBORNE TRANSCEIVER AND A TERRESTRIALTRANSCEIVER.” U.S. Pat. No. 11,239,903 B2 is hereby incorporated byreference into this United States Patent Application.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Wireless communication networks provide wireless data services towireless user devices. The wireless data services includeinternet-access, media-streaming, machine communications, and the like.Exemplary wireless user devices comprise phones, computers, wearabletransceivers, vehicles, robots, and sensors. The wireless communicationnetworks have wireless access nodes that exchange wireless signals withthe wireless user devices over radio frequencies using wireless networkprotocols. Exemplary wireless network protocols include Long TermEvolution (LTE) and Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR).

The wireless user devices are being mounted on airborne devices likedrones and airplanes. These aerial wireless devices distribute theirinterference differently than ground wireless devices. The groundwireless devices propagate signals up toward an elevated access node andthe signal interference is localized at the serving access node and theneighbor access nodes. In contrast, the aerial wireless user devicespropagate signals from high altitudes down to a serving access node, butthe signal interference geographically spreads from the high altitudesto access nodes well beyond the serving access node and the neighboraccess nodes. The signal interference from the aerial wireless devicesis not localized like the signal interference from the ground wirelessdevices.

To overcome the increased interference from the aerial wireless devices,the wireless access nodes increase the transmit power of the groundwireless user devices which creates more interference. In somescenarios, several aerial wireless user devices can spread enoughinterference across a large metropolitan area to force runaway increasesin transmit power and interference. The interference from the aerialwireless devices can bring down or seriously degrade a wirelesscommunication network.

To mitigate some interference, the wireless access nodes use downlinkbeamforming to focus their beams on the individual wireless userdevices. The downlink beamforming uses physical wave guides like cans,horns, and reflectors to generate the downlink beams. In someimplementations, downlink beamforming uses phase shifting to generatedownlink beams from multiple radiators. The downlink beamforming usesnull signals that cancel unwanted signal energy that emanates from thedesired beam pattern. The receiving wireless user devices providebeamforming feedback to the transmitting wireless access nodes to assistin subsequent downlink beamforming. Exemplary beamforming feedbackcomprises Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Rank Index (RI),and Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI).

Unfortunately, the wireless communication networks do not effectivelyand efficiently beamform uplinks from the aerial wireless communicationdevices to the terrestrial wireless access nodes to mitigate theexcessive interference.

TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

In some examples, an uplink is wirelessly beamformed as follows. Data iswirelessly transmitted that indicates an antenna aperture beamwidth foran airborne wireless transmitter. An uplink beamforming instruction andan uplink power instruction are wirelessly received. An uplink wirelesssignal is beamformed responsive to the uplink beamforming instruction.The beamformed uplink wireless signal is amplified responsive to theuplink power instruction. The beamformed and amplified uplink wirelesssignal is wirelessly transmitted.

In some examples, an airborne wireless transceiver wirelessly beamformsan uplink. The airborne wireless transceiver comprises control circuitryand a radio. The control circuitry generates data that indicates anantenna aperture beamwidth for the airborne wireless transceiver. Theradio wirelessly transmits the data that indicates the antenna aperturebeamwidth for the airborne wireless transceiver to a terrestrialwireless transceiver. The radio wirelessly receives an uplinkbeamforming instruction and an uplink power instruction from theterrestrial wireless transceiver. The control circuitry beamforms anuplink wireless signal responsive to the uplink beamforming instruction.The radio amplifies the beamformed uplink wireless signal responsive tothe uplink power instruction. The radio wirelessly transmits thebeamformed and amplified uplink wireless signal to the terrestrialwireless transceiver.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless communication network that beamforms anuplink based on an antenna type and an aperture beamwidth of an airbornetransceiver.

FIG. 2 illustrates the wireless communication network that beamforms thedownlink based on the base station antenna type and uplink feedback.

FIG. 3 illustrates the wireless communication network that beamforms theuplink based on the antenna type and the aperture beamwidth of theairborne transceiver.

FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of the wireless communication networkto beamform the uplink based on the antenna type and the aperturebeamwidth of the airborne transceiver.

FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of the wireless communication networkto beamform the uplink based on the antenna type and the aperturebeamwidth of the airborne transceiver.

FIG. 6 illustrates a Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) airbornetransceiver that beamforms uplinks based on its antenna type andaperture beamwidth.

FIG. 7 illustrates a 5GNR terrestrial transceiver that beamforms uplinksbased on the antenna type and the aperture beamwidth of the 5GNRairborne transceiver.

FIG. 8 illustrates a Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure(NFVI) that supports uplink beamforming based on the antenna type andthe aperture beamwidth of the 5GNR airborne transceiver.

FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of the 5GNR airborne transceiver, 5GNRterrestrial transceiver, and NFVI to beamform uplinks based on theantenna type and the aperture beamwidth of the 5GNR airbornetransceiver.

FIG. 10 illustrates an airborne transceiver that uses an antenna can tobeamform uplinks to an aperture beamwidth.

FIG. 11 illustrates an airborne transceiver that uses an antenna horn tobeamform uplinks to an aperture beamwidth.

FIG. 12 illustrates an airborne transceiver that uses a parabolicreflector to beamform uplinks to an aperture beamwidth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates wireless communication network 100 that beamformsuplinks based on the antenna type and the aperture beamwidth of airbornetransceivers 113-114. Wireless communication network 100 supportswireless data services like internet-access, media-streaming, messaging,machine-control, machine-communications, and/or some other wireless dataproduct. Wireless communication network 100 comprises groundtransceivers 111-112, airborne transceivers 113-114, terrestrialtransceivers 131-132, and network controller 141. Ground transceiver 111is operated by human 101. Ground transceiver 112 is integrated withinvehicle 102. Airborne transceiver 113 is integrated with aerial drone103. Airborne transceiver 114 is integrated with airplane 104. Othertypes of ground and airborne platforms could be used for transceivers111-114.

FIG. 2 illustrates downlink beamforming from terrestrial transceivers131-132 to ground/airborne transceivers 111-114 in wirelesscommunication network 100. The downlink beams propagate in a generalcone pattern where wave guides and/or null signals are used to restrictthe beam energy to the desired pattern. In some examples, downlinkbeamforming is not used for airborne transceivers 113-114 and possiblynot for ground transceivers 111-112 either.

FIG. 3 illustrates aerial uplink beamforming from airborne transceivers111-114 to terrestrial transceivers 131-132. The uplink beams propagatein a general cone pattern where wave guides and/or null signals are usedto restrict the beam energy to the desired pattern. The aerial uplinkbeamforming is based on the antenna types and the aperture beamwidths ofairborne transceivers 113-114. The angle formed by the tip of the coneof the uplink beam comprises the aperture beamwidth. A high aperturebeamwidth of 30 degrees propagates a wider beam than a low aperturebeamwidth like 5 degrees. An aperture beamwidth of 360 degrees resultsin an omni-directional signal (not a beam), and an aperture beamwidth of1 degree creates a very narrow beam.

Referring to back FIG. 1 , ground transceiver 111 and terrestrialtransceiver 131 are coupled over wireless link 121. Ground transceiver112 and terrestrial transceiver 132 are coupled over wireless link 122.Airborne transceiver 113 and terrestrial transceiver 132 are coupledover wireless link 123. Airborne transceiver 114 and terrestrialtransceiver 131 are coupled over wireless link 124. Wireless links121-124 use frequencies in the low-band, mid-band, high-band, or someother part or the wireless electromagnetic spectrum. Wireless links121-124 use protocols like Fifth Generation New Radio, (5GNR), Long TermEvolution (LTE), Low-Power Wide Area Network (LP-WAN), Institute ofElectrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI), or some otherwireless networking technology.

Terrestrial transceivers 131-132 are coupled to one another and tonetwork controller 141 over backhaul links. The backhaul links may useTime Division Multiplex (TDM), IEEE 802.3 (ETHERNET), Internet Protocol(IP), Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS), LTE,5GNR, virtual switching, radio tunneling protocols, and/or some otherdata networking protocol.

Ground and airborne transceivers 111-114 comprise radios and controlcircuitry which are coupled over bus circuitry. Terrestrial transceivers131-132 comprise radios and Baseband Units (BBUs) which are coupled overbus circuitry. The radios comprise antennas, filters, amplifiers,analog-to-digital interfaces, microprocessors, memory, software,transceivers, bus circuitry, and the like. The control circuitry, BBUs,and network controller 141 comprise microprocessors, memory, software,transceivers, bus circuitry, and the like. The microprocessors compriseDigital Signal Processors (DSP), Central Processing Units (CPUs),Graphical Processing Units (GPUs), Application-Specific IntegratedCircuits (ASICs), and/or the like. The memories comprise Random AccessMemory (RAM), flash circuitry, disk drives, and/or the like. Thememories store software like operating systems, user applications, andnetwork applications.

Transceivers 111-114 had transceiver Identifiers (IDs) like SubscriberProfile Identifiers (SPIDs), Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) codes,hardware-trust codes, or some other user equipment IDs. In this example,the airborne transceiver ID for airborne transceiver 113 ispre-associated with its antenna type and aperture beamwidth in networkcontroller 141. Likewise, the airborne transceiver ID for airbornetransceiver 114 is pre-associated with its antenna type and aperturebeamwidth in network controller 141. For example, network controller 141may store a SPID for aerial transceiver 114 in association with codesthat identify software modules, networking parameters, and/or some otherbeamforming information that is specific to the antenna type and theaperture beamwidth of airborne transceiver 114. In some examples,terrestrial transceivers 131-132 and/or airborne transceivers 113-114may maintain and use these associations directly to initiate aerialuplink beamforming.

Ground transceiver 111 wirelessly transfers its transceiver ID toterrestrial transceiver 131 over link 121. Terrestrial transceiver 131transfers the transceiver ID for ground transceiver 111 to networkcontroller 141. Network controller 141 enters a data structure with thetransceiver ID for ground transceiver 111 to determine if groundtransceiver 111 qualifies for aerial uplink beamforming. Since groundtransceiver 111 is not an airborne transceiver, ground transceiver 111does not qualify for aerial uplink beamforming. Ground transceiver 111and terrestrial transceiver 131 exchange wireless communications overwireless link 121 without using aerial uplink beamforming.

Ground transceiver 112 wirelessly transfers its transceiver ID toterrestrial transceiver 132 over link 122. Terrestrial transceiver 132transfers the transceiver ID for ground transceiver 112 to networkcontroller 141. Network controller 141 enters the data structure withthe transceiver ID for ground transceiver 112 to determine if groundtransceiver 112 qualifies for aerial uplink beamforming. Since groundtransceiver 112 is not an airborne transceiver, ground transceiver 112does not qualify for aerial uplink beamforming. Ground transceiver 112and terrestrial transceiver 132 exchange wireless communications overwireless link 122 without using aerial uplink beamforming.

Airborne transceiver 113 wirelessly transfers its transceiver ID toterrestrial transceiver 132 over link 123. Terrestrial transceiver 132transfers the transceiver ID for airborne transceiver 113 to networkcontroller 141. Network controller 141 enters the data structure withthe transceiver ID for airborne transceiver 113 to determine if airbornetransceiver 113 qualifies for aerial uplink beamforming, and in thisexample, airborne transceiver 113 qualifies for aerial uplinkbeamforming. Network controller 141 signals terrestrial transceiver 132to initiate aerial uplink beamforming for airborne transceiver 113 andindicates data specific to the antenna type and aperture beamwidth ofairborne transceiver 113.

Airborne transceiver 113 comprises one or more antennas that have anantenna type. The antenna type has an aperture beamwidth which indicatesthe spread of main lobe energy from the antenna elements. Terrestrialtransceiver 132 receives the signaling from network controller 141 andresponsively initiates aerial uplink beamforming for the specificantenna type and the aperture beamwidth of airborne transceiver 113. Forexample, terrestrial transceiver 132 may use specific networkingsoftware modules that are configured for the antenna type and aperturebeamwidth of airborne transceiver 113. Terrestrial transceiver 132wirelessly receives uplink wireless signals from airborne transceiver113 over link 123. To beamform the uplink, terrestrial transceiver 132determines uplink beamforming metrics for the uplink wireless signal anddetermines the altitude of airborne transceiver 113. For example,terrestrial transceiver 132 may process sounding reference signals fromairborne transceiver 113 to determine received signal amplitude andphase from each transmitting antenna element to each receiving antennaelement. Terrestrial transceiver 132 may determine the altitude ofairborne transceiver based on signal loss, radio triangulation, airbornetransceiver signaling, or some other technique.

Terrestrial transceiver 132 processes the beamforming metrics and thealtitude to generate an uplink beamforming instruction and an uplinkpower instruction for the specific antenna type and aperture beamwidthof airborne transceiver 113. In some examples, terrestrial transceiver132 determines an uplink Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI),uplink Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI), an uplink Rank Index (RI) basedon the beamforming metrics and the altitude. Terrestrial transceiver 132may select an uplink beamforming instruction to increase the length ofan antenna can. Terrestrial transceiver 132 may select an uplink powerinstruction to decrease uplink transmit power for airborne transceiver113 when ground reflection gain will contribute significant signalenergy at terrestrial transceiver 132. Terrestrial transceiver 132wirelessly transfers the uplink beamforming instruction and the uplinkpower instruction to airborne transceiver 113. The uplink beamforminginstructions may include the uplink RSSI, PMI, and RI.

Airborne transceiver 113 wirelessly receives the uplink beamforminginstruction and the uplink power instruction. In response, airbornetransceiver 113 beamforms an uplink wireless signal responsive to theuplink beamforming instruction. In some examples, airborne transceiver113 beamforms the uplink wireless signal based on the uplink RSSI, PMI,and RI. Airborne transceiver 113 amplifies the uplink wireless signalresponsive to the uplink power instruction. Airborne transceiver 113wirelessly transmits the uplink wireless signal to terrestrialtransceiver 132. In some examples, airborne transceiver 113 determinesits geometric orientation relative to terrestrial transceiver 132 andalters the beamforming instructions based on the geometric orientation.For example, when aerial drone 103 turns, airborne transceiver 113 maysense the turn with gyro circuitry and alter the uplink beamforming tocenter the beam on terrestrial transceiver 132 throughout the turn.

Airborne transceiver 114 wirelessly transfers its transceiver ID toterrestrial transceiver 131 over link 124. Terrestrial transceiver 131transfers the transceiver ID for airborne transceiver 114 to networkcontroller 141. Network controller 141 enters the data structure withthe transceiver ID for airborne transceiver 114 to determine if airbornetransceiver 114 qualifies for aerial uplink beamforming, and in thisexample, airborne transceiver 114 qualifies for aerial uplinkbeamforming. Network controller 141 signals terrestrial transceiver 131to initiate aerial uplink beamforming for airborne transceiver 114 andindicates data specific to the antenna type and aperture beamwidth ofairborne transceiver 114.

Airborne transceiver 114 comprises one or more antennas that have anantenna type. The antenna type has an aperture beamwidth which indicatesthe spread of main lobe energy from the antenna elements. Terrestrialtransceiver 131 receives the signaling from network controller 141 andresponsively initiates aerial uplink beamforming for the antenna typeand the aperture beamwidth of airborne transceiver 114. For example,terrestrial transceiver 131 may use specific networking software modulesthat are configured for the antenna type and aperture beamwidth ofairborne transceiver 114. Terrestrial transceiver 131 wirelesslyreceives uplink wireless signals from airborne transceiver 114 over link124. To beamform the uplink, terrestrial transceiver 131 determinesuplink beamforming metrics for the uplink wireless signal and determinesthe altitude of airborne transceiver 114. For example, terrestrialtransceiver 131 may process sounding reference signals from airbornetransceiver 114 to determine received signal amplitude and phase fromeach transmitting antenna element to each receiving antenna element.

Terrestrial transceiver 131 processes the beamforming metrics and thealtitude to generate an uplink beamforming instruction and an uplinkpower instruction for the antenna type and the aperture beamwidth ofairborne transceiver 114. In some examples, terrestrial transceiver 132determines an uplink RSSI, PMI, RI based on the beamforming metrics andthe altitude. For example, terrestrial transceiver 131 may select anuplink beamforming instruction to increase the null signal on a noisyside of the main lobe. Terrestrial transceiver 131 may select an uplinkpower instruction to increase the uplink transmit power for airbornetransceiver 114 when its altitude indicates that ground reflection willno longer contribute significant signal energy at terrestrialtransceiver 131. Terrestrial transceiver 131 wirelessly transfers theuplink beamforming instruction and the uplink power instruction toairborne transceiver 114. The uplink beamforming instructions mayinclude the uplink RSSI, PMI, and RI.

Airborne transceiver 114 wirelessly receives the uplink beamforminginstruction and the uplink power instruction. In response, airbornetransceiver 114 beamforms an uplink wireless signal responsive to theuplink beamforming instruction. In some examples, airborne transceiver113 beamforms the uplink wireless signal based on the uplink RSSI, PMI,and RI. Airborne transceiver 114 amplifies the uplink wireless signalresponsive to the uplink power instruction. Airborne transceiver 114wirelessly transmits the uplink wireless signal to terrestrialtransceiver 131. In some examples, airborne transceiver 114 determinesits geometric orientation relative to terrestrial transceiver 131 andalters the beamforming based on the geometric orientation. When airplane114 turns, airborne transceiver 114 may sense the turn with gyrocircuitry and alter the beamforming to center the uplink beam onterrestrial transceiver 131 throughout the turn.

In some examples, terrestrial transceiver 132 initiates aerial downlinkbeamforming for airborne transceiver 113 based on its airbornetransceiver ID as shown on FIG. 2 . For example, network controller 141may initiate aerial downlink beamforming along with the aerial uplinkbeamforming. Airborne transceiver 113 wirelessly receives a downlinkwireless signal from terrestrial transceiver 132. In response to theaerial downlink beamforming, airborne transceiver 113 determinesdownlink beamforming metrics for the downlink wireless signal like RSSIand RI. Airborne transceiver 113 processes the downlink beamformingmetrics and responsively generates a downlink beamforming instructionfor terrestrial transceiver 132 like PMI. Airborne transceiver 113wirelessly transfers the downlink beamforming instruction to terrestrialtransceiver 132. Terrestrial transceiver 132 wirelessly receives thedownlink beamforming instruction and responsively beamforms andwirelessly transmits a downlink wireless signal in response to thedownlink beamforming instruction. Airborne transceiver 113 wirelesslyreceives the downlink wireless signal from terrestrial transceiver 132.

In some examples, terrestrial transceiver 131 initiates aerial downlinkbeamforming for airborne transceiver 114 over link 124 based on itsairborne transceiver ID as shown on FIG. 2 . Airborne transceiver 114wirelessly receives a downlink wireless signal from terrestrialtransceiver 131. In response to the aerial downlink beamforming,airborne transceiver 114 determines downlink beamforming metrics for thedownlink wireless signal like RSSI and RI. Airborne transceiver 114processes the downlink beamforming metrics and responsively generates adownlink beamforming instruction for terrestrial transceiver 131 likePMI. Airborne transceiver 114 wirelessly transfers the downlinkbeamforming instruction to terrestrial transceiver 131. Terrestrialtransceiver 131 wirelessly receives the downlink beamforming instructionand responsively beamforms and wirelessly transmits a downlink wirelesssignal in response to the downlink beamforming instruction. Airbornetransceiver 114 wirelessly receives the downlink wireless signal fromterrestrial transceiver 131.

FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of wireless communication network 100to beamform an uplink based on the antenna type and the aperturebeamwidth of airborne transceiver 114. Airborne transceiver 114wirelessly transfers its airborne transceiver ID to terrestrialtransceiver 131 (401). Terrestrial transceiver 131 determines ifairborne transceiver 114 can perform uplink aerial beamforming based onthe airborne transceiver ID (402). For example, terrestrial transceiver131 may enter a data structure with the airborne transceiver ID forairborne transceiver 114 to yield an aerial uplink beamformingqualification for airborne transceiver 114. If airborne transceiver 114cannot perform uplink aerial beamforming (403), network 100 servestransceiver 114 without uplink aerial beamforming (404). If airbornetransceiver 114 can perform uplink aerial beamforming (403), terrestrialtransceiver 131 processes wireless signals from airborne transceiver 114to determine the altitude and aerial uplink beamforming metrics for theantenna type and aperture beamwidth of airborne transceiver 114 (405).Terrestrial transceiver 131 processes the altitude and the aerial uplinkbeamforming metrics to generate an uplink beamforming instruction and anuplink power instruction (406). Terrestrial transceiver 131 wirelesslytransfers the uplink beamforming instruction and the uplink powerinstruction to airborne transceiver 114 (407). Airborne transceiver 114beamforms, amplifies, and transmits a wireless signal to terrestrialtransceiver 131 responsive to the aerial uplink beamforming instructionand the uplink power instruction (408). The operation then repeats(405).

FIG. 5 illustrates the operation of wireless communication network 100to beamform uplinks based on the antenna type and the aperture beamwidthof airborne transceiver 113. Airborne transceiver 113 wirelesslytransfers its airborne transceiver ID to terrestrial transceiver 132.Based on the airborne transceiver ID from airborne transceiver 113,terrestrial transceiver 132 initiates aerial uplink beamforming forairborne transceiver 113. Terrestrial transceiver 132 processes wirelesssignals from airborne transceiver 113 to determine the altitude andinitial aerial uplink beamforming metrics for airborne transceiver 113.Terrestrial transceiver 132 processes the altitude and the initialaerial uplink beamforming metrics to generate an uplink beamforminginstruction and an uplink power instruction. Terrestrial transceiver 132wirelessly transfers the uplink beamforming instruction and the uplinkpower instruction to airborne transceiver 113. Airborne transceiver 113beamforms, amplifies, and transmits wireless signals to terrestrialtransceiver 132 responsive to the aerial uplink beamforming instructionand the uplink power instruction.

Advantageously, wireless communication network 100 effectively andefficiently beamforms uplinks from aerial transceivers 113-114 toterrestrial transceivers 131-132 to mitigate interference.

FIG. 6 illustrates Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR) airbornetransceiver 614 that beamforms uplinks based on its antenna type andaperture beamwidth. 5GNR airborne transceiver 614 is an example ofairborne transceivers 113-114, although transceivers 113-114 may differ.5GNR airborne transceiver 614 comprises 5GNR radios 615 and controlcircuitry 616 which are interconnected over bus circuitry 617. 5GNRradios 615 comprise antennas, amplifiers, filters, modulation,analog-to-digital interfaces, DSP, and memory that are coupled over buscircuitry. The antennas in 5GNR airborne transceiver 614 are wirelesslycoupled to 5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631 over wireless 5GNR links624. The antennas have an antenna type, and the antenna type has anaperture beamwidth.

Control circuitry 616 comprises data Input/Output circuitry (I/O), CPU,and memory. The memory in control circuitry 616 stores an operatingsystem, user applications, and network applications for Physical Layer(PHY), Media Access Control (MAC), Radio Link Control (RLC), Packet DataConvergence Protocol (PDCP), Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP),and Radio Resource Control (RRC). The CPU executes the operating system,user applications, and network applications to exchange user data withairborne data com network 604 over the data I/O. The CPU executes theoperating system and network applications to wirelessly exchangecorresponding signaling and data with 5GNR terrestrial transceiver over5GNR radios 615.

In 5GNR radios 615, the antennas receive wireless 5GNR signals from 5GNRterrestrial transceiver 631 that transport Downlink (DL) 5GNR signalingand DL 5GNR data. The DL 5GNR signaling includes uplink beamforminginstructions and uplink power instructions. The antennas transfercorresponding electrical DL signals through duplexers to the amplifiers.The amplifiers boost the received DL signals for filters which attenuateunwanted energy. Demodulators down-convert the DL signals from theircarrier frequencies. The analog/digital interfaces convert the analog DLsignals into digital DL signals for the DSPs. The DSPs recover DL 5GNRsymbols from the DL digital signals. The CPU executes the networkapplications to process the DL 5GNR symbols and recover the DL 5GNRsignaling and the 5GNR DL data. The RRC transfers the uplink beamforminginstruction to the PHY and transfers the uplink power instruction to theMAC. The RRC transfers corresponding DL user signaling to the operatingsystem/user applications. The SDAP interworks 5GNR data and user dataand transfers corresponding DL user data to the operating system/userapplications for delivery to airborne data com network 604.

The SDAP receives Uplink (UL) user data from the operating system/userapplications which received the user data from airborne data com network604. The SDAP interworks the 5GNR data and the user data. The RRCreceives UL signaling from the operating system/user applications. TheRRC processes the UL user signaling and the DL 5GNR signaling togenerate new DL user signaling and new UL 5GNR signaling. The networkapplications process the UL 5GNR signaling and the UL 5GNR data togenerate corresponding UL 5GNR symbols. In particular, the PHY appliesthe beamforming instructions when mapping, precoding, and the like. TheMAC applies the power control instructions through the DSP andamplifiers.

In 5GNR radios 615, the DSP processes the UL 5GNR symbols to generatecorresponding digital signals for the analog-to-digital interfaces. TheDSP exerts power control over the amplifiers per the MAC. Theanalog-to-digital interfaces convert the digital UL signals into analogUL signals for modulation. Modulation up-converts the UL signals totheir carrier frequencies. The amplifiers boost the modulated UL signalsto the selected UL transmit power levels per the DSP uplink powercontrol. The filters attenuate unwanted out-of-band energy and transferthe filtered UL signals through duplexers to the antennas. Theelectrical UL signals drive the antennas to emit corresponding wireless5GNR signals that transport the UL 5GNR signaling and UL 5GNR data to5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631.

RRC functions comprise authentication, security, handover control,status reporting, Quality-of-Service (QoS), network broadcasts andpages, and network selection. SDAP functions comprise QoS marking andflow control. PDCP functions comprise LTE/5GNR allocations, securityciphering, header compression and decompression, sequence numbering andre-sequencing, de-duplication. RLC functions comprise Automatic RepeatRequest (ARQ), sequence numbering and resequencing, segmentation andresegmentation. MAC functions comprise buffer status, power control,channel quality, HARQ, user identification, random access, userscheduling, and QoS. PHY functions comprise packetformation/deformation, windowing/de-windowing,guard-insertion/guard-deletion, parsing/de-parsing, controlinsertion/removal, interleaving/de-interleaving, Forward ErrorCorrection (FEC) encoding/decoding, rate matching/de-matching,scrambling/descrambling, modulation mapping/de-mapping, channelestimation/equalization, Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs)/Inverse FFTs(IFFTs), channel coding/decoding, layer mapping/de-mapping, precoding,Discrete Fourier Transforms (DFTs)/Inverse DFTs (IDFTs), and ResourceElement (RE) mapping/de-mapping.

In 5GNR airborne transceiver 614, the RRC wirelessly transfers theService Profile Identifier (SPID) for transceiver 614 to terrestrialtransceiver 631 over 5GNR radios 615. In response, the RRC receives 5GNRsignaling from 5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631 with uplink beamforminginstructions and uplink power instructions for the antenna type andaperture beamwidth of airborne transceiver 614. The beamforminginstructions may include RSSI, PMI, RI. The uplink power instructionsindicate a power modification or the target uplink transmit power.

The RRC signals the PHY to beamform the uplink wireless signal using theRSSI, PMI, RI, and other uplink beamforming information. The PHY appliesmapping, coding, multiplexing, and the like to beamform the uplinksignals. The RRC signals the power control to the MAC, and the MACdirects 5GNR radios 615 to amplify the uplink wireless signal to theselected transmit power. The amplifiers increase or decrease the uplinkgain per the MAC control.

The PHY may determine its geometric position relative to the ground (andterrestrial transceiver 131) using gyro circuitry. The PHY may thenalter the beamforming based on the geometric orientation. When airbornetransceiver turns, the PHY senses the turn and adjusts the uplinkbeamforming to center the beam on 5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631throughout the turn. The PHY may determine RSSI, PMI, and RI duringdownlink channel estimation. The RRC then transfers the downlink RSSI,PMI, and RI to terrestrial transceiver 631 for downlink beamforming. ThePHY subsequently receives the beamformed downlink signal fromterrestrial transceiver 631.

FIG. 7 illustrates 5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631 that beamforms theuplink based on the antenna type and the aperture beamwidth of 5GNRairborne transceiver 614. 5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631 is an exampleof terrestrial transceivers 131-132, although transceivers 131-132 maydiffer. 5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631 comprise 5GNR radios 732 and5GNR Baseband Unit (BBU) 733. 5GNR radios 732 comprise antennas,amplifiers, filters, modulation, analog-to-digital interfaces, DSP, andmemory that are coupled over bus circuitry. 5GNR BBU 733 comprisesmemory, CPU, and data Input/Output (I/O) that are coupled over buscircuitry.

5GNR airborne transceiver 614 is wirelessly coupled to the antennas in5GNR radios 732. 5GNR radios 732 and 5GNR BBU 733 are coupled over datalinks like Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) or some other networkprotocol. The data I/O in 5GNR BBU 733 is coupled over backhaul links toNFVI 641. In BBU 733, the memory stores an operating system, PHY, MAC,RLC, PDCP, SDAP, and RRC. The CPUs execute the PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP,SDAP, and RRC to drive the exchange of data and signaling between 5GNRairborne transceiver 614 and NFVI 641 over 5GNR radios 732.

In 5GNR radios 732, the antennas receive wireless signals from 5GNRairborne transceiver 614 that transport UL 5GNR signaling and UL 5GNRdata. The UL 5GNR signaling sometimes includes the SPID for 5GNRairborne transceiver 614. The antennas transfer corresponding electricalUL signals through duplexers to the amplifiers. The amplifiers boost thereceived UL signals for filters which attenuate unwanted energy.Modulators down-convert the UL signals from their carrier frequencies.The analog/digital interfaces convert the analog UL signals into digitalUL signals for the DSP. The DSP recovers UL 5GNR/LTE symbols from the ULdigital signals. In 5GNR BBU 733, the CPU executes the networkapplications to process the UL 5GNR symbols and recover UL 5GNRsignaling and UL 5GNR data. The PHY detects the RSSI and RI for theuplink and determines the uplink PMI. The MAC determines the uplinkpower control.

In 5GNR BBU 733, the CPU executes the 5GNR RRC to process the UL 5GNRsignaling and DL 5GNR signaling to generate new UL 5GNR signaling andnew DL 5GNR signaling. The new UL 5GNR signaling sometimes has the SPIDfor airborne transceiver 614. The 5GNR RRC transfers the new UL 5GNRsignaling to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) in 641over the data I/O and backhaul links. The 5GNR SDAP transfers the UL5GNR data to a User Plane Function (UPF) in NFVI 641 over the data I/Oand backhaul links. The 5GNR RRC receives the DL 5GNR signaling from theAMF that sometimes includes aerial uplink beamforming information. The5GNR SDAP receives DL 5GNR data from the UPF.

The 5GNR network applications in 5GNR BBU 733 process the DL 5GNRsignaling and DL 5GNR data to generate corresponding DL 5GNR symbolsthat represent the DL 5GNR signaling and DL 5GNR data in the frequencydomain. In 5GNR radios 732, the DSP processes the DL 5GNR symbols togenerate corresponding digital signals for the analog-to-digitalinterfaces. The analog-to-digital interfaces convert the digital DLsignals into analog DL signals for modulation. Modulation up-convertsthe DL signals to their carrier frequencies. The amplifiers boost themodulated DL signals for the filters which attenuate unwantedout-of-band energy. The filters transfer the filtered DL signals throughduplexers to the antennas. The electrical DL signals drive the antennasto emit corresponding wireless signals that transport the DL 5GNRsignaling and DL 5GNR data to 5GNR airborne transceiver 614.

RRC functions comprise authentication, security, handover control,status reporting, QoS, network broadcasts and pages, and networkselection. PDCP functions comprise LTE/5GNR allocations, securityciphering, header compression and decompression, sequence numbering andre-sequencing, de-duplication. RLC functions comprise ARQ, sequencenumbering and resequencing, segmentation and resegmentation. MACfunctions comprise buffer status, power control, channel quality, HARQ,user identification, random access, user scheduling, and QoS. PHYfunctions comprise packet formation/deformation, windowing/de-windowing,guard-insertion/guard-deletion, parsing/de-parsing, controlinsertion/removal, interleaving/de-interleaving, FEC encoding/decoding,rate matching/de-matching, scrambling/descrambling, modulationmapping/de-mapping, channel estimation/equalization, FFTs/IFFTs, channelcoding/decoding, layer mapping/de-mapping, precoding, DFTs/IDFTs, and REmapping/de-mapping.

The RRC in 5GNR BBU 733 receives the SPID from airborne transceiver 614over link 624 and 5GNR radios 732. The RRC in BBU 733 transfers the SPIDfor airborne transceiver 614 to the AMF in NFVI 641 to determine ifairborne transceiver 614 qualifies for aerial uplink beamforming. TheRRC receives signaling from the AMF indicating that airborne transceiver614 qualifies for aerial uplink beamforming. The signaling from the AMFalso has data for the antenna type and the aperture beamwidth ofairborne transceiver 614. For example, the signaling may indicate aspecific PHY and MAC that are configured for the specific antenna typeand/or the aperture beamwidth of airborne transceiver 614. Terrestrialtransceiver 631 wirelessly receives uplink wireless signals fromairborne transceiver 614 over link 624. The PHY determines uplinkbeamforming metrics like matrix values for the uplink wireless signalduring channel estimation. The PHY determines the altitude of airbornetransceiver 614 based on the uplink beamforming metrics. For example,the PHY may process sounding reference signals from airborne transceiver614 to determine received signal amplitude and phase from eachtransmitting antenna element to each receiving antenna element. The PHYmay determine the altitude of airborne transceiver 614 based on signalloss, radio triangulation, airborne transceiver signaling, or some othertechnique. The PHY in BBU 733 processes the beamforming metrics and thealtitude to generate an uplink beamforming instruction for the specificantenna type and aperture beamwidth of airborne transceiver 614. Theuplink beamforming instruction may comprise an uplink Precoding MatrixIndicator (PMI), uplink Rank Index (RI), and uplink Received SignalStrength Indicator (RSSI).

The MAC in BBU 733 processes the RSSI and the altitude to generate anuplink power instruction for the specific antenna type and aperturebeamwidth of airborne transceiver 614. The uplink power instructiontypically comprises a decibel increase or decrease, but the instructionsmay indicate the desired transmit power, a percentage of the maximumtransmit power, or some other power control data. The MAC may host adata structure for the specific antenna type and aperture beamwidth thattranslates the altitude and RSSI into target uplink transmit power. Forlower altitudes like 100 feet, the MAC may select a lower uplinktransmit power that relies on ground reflection to propagate enoughsignal power to terrestrial transceiver 631. The MAC and PHY in BBU 733transfer the uplink beamforming and power instructions to 5GNR airbornereceiver 614.

The PHY in BBU 733 may initiate aerial downlink beamforming for 5GNRairborne transceiver 614. For downlink beamforming, the PHY in BBU 733receives downlink beamforming instructions like RSSI, PMI, and RI from5GNR airborne receiver 614. The PHY beamforms the downlink wirelesssignals based on the PMI, RI, RSSI, and other downlink beamforminginformation.

FIG. 8 illustrates Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI)641 that supports uplink beamforming based on the antenna type and theaperture beamwidth of 5GNR airborne transceiver 614. NFVI 641 is anexample of network controller 141, although network controller 141 maydiffer. NFVI 641 comprises hardware 642, hardware drivers 643, operatingsystems and hypervisors 644, virtual layer 645, and Virtual NetworkFunctions (VNFs) 646. Hardware 642 comprises Network Interface Cards(NICs), CPUs, RAM, flash/disk drives, and data switches (SWS). Virtuallayer 643 comprises virtual NICs (vNIC), virtual CPUs (vCPU), virtualRAM (vRAM), virtual Drives (vDRIVE), and virtual Switches (vSW). TheNICs in NFVI 641 are coupled to 5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631 overbackhaul links. VNFs 646 comprise Access and Mobility ManagementFunction (AMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), SessionManagement Function (SMF), User Plane Function (UPF), Policy ControlFunction (PCF), and the like. Hardware 642 executes hardware drivers643, operating systems and hypervisors 644, virtual layer 645, and VNFs646 to serve 5GNR airborne transceiver 614 with data services includingauthorizing the uplink aerial beamforming to 5GNR terrestrialtransceiver 631.

5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631 transfers the SPID for 5GNR airbornetransceiver 614 to the AMF. The AMF transfers the SPID to the AUSF. TheAUSF translates the SPID into an instruction to use aerial uplinkbeamforming based on data specific to the antenna type and aperturebeamwidth of airborne transceiver 614. The AUSF transfers the aerialuplink beamforming instruction to the AMF which signals the instructionto the RRC in 5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631.

FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of 5GNR airborne transceiver 614, 5GNRterrestrial transceiver 631, and NFVI 641 to beamform uplinks based onthe antenna type and the aperture beamwidth of 5GNR airborne transceiver614. The RRC in 5GNR airborne transceiver 614 wirelessly transfers itsService Profile Identifier (SPID) to the RRC in terrestrial transceiver631 over the RLCs, MACs, and PHYs.

The RRC in 5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631 receives the SPID fromairborne transceiver 614 over the RLCs, MACs, and PHYs The RRC in 5GNRterrestrial transceiver 631 transfers the SPID for 5GNR airbornetransceiver 614 to the AMF in NFVI 641 over an N2 link. The AMFtransfers the SPID to the AUSF. The AUSF translates the SPID into anauthorization to use aerial uplink beamforming based on data specific tothe antenna type and aperture beamwidth of airborne transceiver 614. Forexample, the data may identify software modules and/or parameters to usewhen aerial uplink beamforming for airborne transceiver 614. The AUSFtransfers the aerial uplink beamforming authorization to the AMF whichsignals the authorization to the RRC in 5GNR terrestrial transceiver631.

In response to the aerial uplink beamforming authorization, the PHY interrestrial transceiver 631 processes uplink signals to determine uplinkbeamforming metrics during channel estimation. The PHY determines thealtitude of airborne transceiver 614 based on signal loss, radiotriangulation, airborne transceiver signaling, or some other technique.The PHY processes the beamforming metrics and the altitude to generatean uplink beamforming instruction for the specific antenna type andaperture beamwidth of airborne transceiver 614. The uplink beamforminginstruction may comprise an uplink PMI, uplink RI, uplink RSSI, and/orsome other uplink control data.

The MAC in 5GNR terrestrial transceiver 631 processes the RSSI and thealtitude to generate an uplink power instruction for the specificantenna type and aperture beamwidth of airborne transceiver 614. The MACmay host a data structure for the specific antenna type and aperturebeamwidth that translates the altitude and RSSI into target uplinktransmit power. For lower altitudes, the MAC may decrease the uplinktransmit power to a level that uses ground reflection for signal powerat terrestrial transceiver 631. The MAC and PHY in 5GNR terrestrialtransceiver 631 transfer the uplink beamforming and power instructionsto 5GNR airborne receiver 614.

The RRC in airborne transceiver 614 receives the uplink beamforminginstructions and uplink power instructions from the RRC in 5GNRterrestrial transceiver. The RRC signals the PHY to beamform the uplinkwireless signal using the RSSI, PMI, RI, and other uplink beamforminginformation. The PHY applies mapping, coding, multiplexing, and the liketo beamform the uplink signals per the uplink beamforming instructions.The RRC signals the power control to the MAC, and the MAC drives theamplifiers per the uplink power instructions. The amplifiers increase ordecrease their uplink gain per the MAC control.

On the uplink, user data flows from the user applications in 5GNRairborne transceiver 614 through the SDAP, PDCP, RLC, and MAC to thePHY. The PHY beamforms the user data, and the MAC controls uplink power.The PHY transmits the beamformed user data to the PHY in 5GNRterrestrial transceiver 631.

In 5GNR terrestrial transceiver, the PHY determines uplink beamforminginstructions, and the MAC determines uplink power instructions based onthe received uplink data (and reference signals). The user data flowsfrom the PHY to the SDAP over the MAC, RLC, and PDCP. The SDAP transfersthe user data to the UPF. The AMF and SMF control the UPF to serve theuplink. The UPF forwards the user data to external systems to completethe uplink.

FIG. 10 illustrates airborne transceiver 1014 that uses an antenna canto beamform uplinks to an aperture beamwidth. Airborne transceiver 1014is an example of airborne transceivers 113-114 and 614, althoughtransceivers 113-114 and 614 may differ. Airborne transceiver 1014 hasBBU circuitry, radio circuitry, a motor, and an antenna can. The radiocircuitry has antennas that are shown on FIG. 10 as cross-pole antennas,but other antennas could be used. The antenna can is a hollow metalcylinder with an open end that points straight down towards earth whenairborne. A gyro or gimbal may be used to maintain the downward pointingangle. The antenna can is a wave guide that controls the aperturebeamwidth. An exemplary aperture beamwidth for can antennas is around 30degrees. The motor moves the antenna can up and down to change thedistance from the antennas to the can aperture and correspondinglychange the aperture beamwidth. The uplink beamforming instructions fromthe terrestrial transceiver may direct airborne transceiver 1014 to movethe antenna can up or down to change the aperture beamwidth. The uplinkbeamforming instructions from the terrestrial transceiver may directairborne transceiver 1014 to increase or decrease null signals that areemitted from some of the antenna elements to change the aperturebeamwidth. The BBU circuitry controls the radio circuitry based on theuplink beamforming and power instructions.

FIG. 11 illustrates airborne transceiver 1114 that uses an antenna hornto beamform uplinks to an aperture beamwidth. Airborne transceiver 1114is an example of airborne transceivers 113-114 and 614, althoughtransceivers 113-114 and 614 may differ. Airborne transceiver 1114 hasBBU circuitry, radio circuitry, a motor, and an antenna horn. The radiocircuitry has antennas that are shown on FIG. 10 as cross-pole antennas,but other antennas could be used. The antenna horn is a metal box thatis wider at the bottom and that points straight down towards earth whenairborne. A gyro or gimbal may be used to maintain the downward pointingangle. The antenna horn is a wave guide that controls the aperturebeamwidth. An exemplary aperture beamwidth for a horn antenna is between10 and 20 degrees. The motor moves the antenna horn up and down tochange the distance from the antennas to the horn aperture andcorrespondingly change the aperture beamwidth. The uplink beamforminginstructions from the terrestrial transceiver may direct airbornetransceiver 1114 to move the antenna horn up or down to change theaperture beamwidth. The uplink beamforming instructions from theterrestrial transceiver may direct airborne transceiver 1114 to increaseor decrease null signals that are emitted from some of the antennaelements to change the aperture beamwidth. The BBU circuitry controlsthe radio circuitry based on the uplink beamforming and powerinstructions.

FIG. 12 illustrates airborne transceiver 1214 that uses a parabolicreflector to beamform uplinks to an aperture beamwidth. Airbornetransceiver 1214 is an example of airborne transceivers 113-114 and 614,although transceivers 113-114 and 614 may differ. Airborne transceiver1214 has BBU circuitry, radio circuitry, a motor, and a parabolicreflector. The radio circuitry has an antenna that is shown on FIG. 10as a cross-pole antenna, but other antennas could be used. The parabolicreflector is a metal dish having a relatively flat parabola shape thatpoints straight down towards earth when airborne. A gyro or gimbal maybe used to maintain the downward pointing angle. The parabolic reflectoris a wave guide that controls the aperture beamwidth. An exemplaryaperture beamwidth for a parabolic antenna is between three and fivedegrees. The motor moves the antennas up and down to change the distancefrom the antennas to the parabolic reflector and correspondingly changethe aperture beamwidth. The uplink beamforming instructions from theterrestrial transceiver may direct airborne transceiver 1214 to move theantennas up or down to change the aperture beamwidth. The uplinkbeamforming instructions from the terrestrial transceiver may directairborne transceiver 1214 to increase or decrease null signals that areemitted from some of the antenna elements to change the aperturebeamwidth. The BBU circuitry controls the radio circuitry based on theuplink beamforming and power instructions.

The wireless data network circuitry described above comprises computerhardware and software that form special-purpose network circuitry tobeamform uplinks based on the antenna types and aperture beamwidths ofairborne transceivers. The computer hardware comprises processingcircuitry like CPUs, DSPs, GPUs, transceivers, bus circuitry, andmemory. To form these computer hardware structures, semiconductors likesilicon or germanium are positively and negatively doped to formtransistors. The doping comprises ions like boron or phosphorus that areembedded within the semiconductor material. The transistors and otherelectronic structures like capacitors and resistors are arranged andmetallically connected within the semiconductor to form devices likelogic circuitry and storage registers. The logic circuitry and storageregisters are arranged to form larger structures like control units,logic units, and Random-Access Memory (RAM). In turn, the control units,logic units, and RAM are metallically connected to form CPUs, DSPs,GPUs, transceivers, bus circuitry, and memory.

In the computer hardware, the control units drive data between the RAMand the logic units, and the logic units operate on the data. Thecontrol units also drive interactions with external memory like flashdrives, disk drives, and the like. The computer hardware executesmachine-level software to control and move data by driving machine-levelinputs like voltages and currents to the control units, logic units, andRAM. The machine-level software is typically compiled from higher-levelsoftware programs. The higher-level software programs comprise operatingsystems, utilities, user applications, and the like. Both thehigher-level software programs and their compiled machine-level softwareare stored in memory and retrieved for compilation and execution. Onpower-up, the computer hardware automatically executesphysically-embedded machine-level software that drives the compilationand execution of the other computer software components which thenassert control. Due to this automated execution, the presence of thehigher-level software in memory physically changes the structure of thecomputer hardware machines into special-purpose network circuitry tobeamform uplinks based on the antenna types and aperture beamwidths ofairborne transceivers.

The above description and associated figures teach the best mode of theinvention. The following claims specify the scope of the invention. Notethat some aspects of the best mode may not fall within the scope of theinvention as specified by the claims. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the features described above can be combined in variousways to form multiple variations of the invention. Thus, the inventionis not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but only bythe following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method to wirelessly beamform an uplink, themethod comprising: wirelessly transmitting data that indicates anantenna aperture beamwidth for an airborne wireless transmitter;wirelessly receiving an uplink beamforming instruction and an uplinkpower instruction; beamforming an uplink wireless signal responsive tothe uplink beamforming instruction; amplifying the beamformed uplinkwireless signal responsive to the uplink power instruction; andwirelessly transmitting the beamformed and amplified uplink wirelesssignal.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein wirelessly transmitting thedata that indicates the antenna aperture beamwidth for the airbornewireless transmitter comprises indicating an identifier for an airbornevehicle.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein wirelessly transmitting thedata that indicates the antenna aperture beamwidth for the airbornewireless transmitter comprises indicating an identifier for an airbornetransceiver.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein wirelessly transmittingthe data that indicates the antenna aperture beamwidth for the airbornewireless transmitter comprises indicating an identifier for the airbornewireless transmitter.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein wirelesslytransmitting the data that indicates the antenna aperture beamwidth forthe airborne wireless transmitter comprises indicating an antenna type.6. The method of claim 1 wherein beamforming the uplink wireless signalcomprises determining a geometric orientation of the airborne wirelesstransmitter relative to a terrestrial wireless receiver and beamformingthe uplink wireless signal based on the geometric orientation.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 wherein: wirelessly receiving the uplink beamforminginstruction comprises receiving an aperture instruction; and beamformingthe uplink wireless signal comprises modifying the antenna aperturebeamwidth responsive to the aperture instruction.
 8. The method of claim1 wherein: wirelessly receiving an uplink beamforming instructioncomprises receiving an uplink Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI); andbeamforming the uplink wireless signal comprises beamforming the uplinkwireless signal based on the uplink PMI.
 9. The method of claim 1wherein: wirelessly receiving the uplink beamforming instructioncomprises receiving an uplink Rank Index (RI); and beamforming theuplink wireless signal comprises beamforming the uplink wireless signalbased on the uplink RI.
 10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:wirelessly receiving a downlink wireless signal; determining downlinkbeamforming metrics based on the downlink wireless signal; generating adownlink beamforming instruction based on the downlink beamformingmetrics; and wirelessly transmitting the downlink beamforminginstruction.
 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising: determiningan altitude of an airborne receiver; generating a downlink beamforminginstruction based on the altitude; and wirelessly transmitting thedownlink beamforming instruction.
 12. A method of operating an airbornewireless transceiver to wirelessly beamform an uplink to a terrestrialwireless transceiver, the method comprising: control circuitrygenerating data that indicates an antenna aperture beamwidth for theairborne wireless transceiver; a radio wirelessly transmitting the datato the terrestrial wireless receiver that indicates the antenna aperturebeamwidth for the airborne wireless transceiver; the radio wirelesslyreceiving an uplink beamforming instruction and an uplink powerinstruction from the terrestrial wireless transceiver; the controlcircuitry beamforming an uplink wireless signal responsive to the uplinkbeamforming instruction; the radio amplifying the beamformed uplinkwireless signal responsive to the uplink power instruction; and theradio wirelessly transmitting the beamformed and amplified uplinkwireless signal to the terrestrial wireless transceiver.
 13. The methodof claim 12 wherein: the control circuitry generating the data thatindicates the antenna aperture beamwidth for the airborne wirelesstransceiver comprises indicating an identifier for the airborne wirelesstransceiver; and the radio wirelessly transmitting the data thatindicates the antenna aperture beamwidth for the airborne wirelesstransceiver comprises indicating the identifier for the airbornewireless transceiver.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein: the controlcircuitry generating the data that indicates the antenna aperturebeamwidth for the airborne wireless transceiver comprises indicating anantenna type for the airborne wireless transceiver; and the radiowirelessly transmitting the data that indicates the antenna aperturebeamwidth for the airborne wireless transceiver comprises indicating theantenna type for the airborne wireless transceiver.
 15. The method ofclaim 12 wherein: the radio wirelessly receiving the uplink beamforminginstruction comprises receiving an aperture instruction; and the controlcircuitry beamforming the uplink wireless signal comprises modifying theantenna aperture beamwidth responsive to the aperture instruction. 16.An airborne wireless transceiver to wirelessly beamform an uplink, theairborne wireless transceiver comprising: control circuitry to generatedata that indicates an antenna aperture beamwidth for the airbornewireless transceiver; a radio to wirelessly transmit the data thatindicates the antenna aperture beamwidth for the airborne wirelesstransceiver to a terrestrial wireless transceiver; the radio towirelessly receive an uplink beamforming instruction and an uplink powerinstruction from the terrestrial wireless transceiver; the controlcircuitry to beamform an uplink wireless signal responsive to the uplinkbeamforming instruction; the radio to amplify the beamformed uplinkwireless signal responsive to the uplink power instruction; and theradio to wirelessly transmit the beamformed and amplified uplinkwireless signal to the terrestrial wireless transceiver.
 17. Theairborne wireless transceiver of claim 16 wherein the control circuitryis to determine a geometric orientation of the airborne wirelesstransceiver relative to the terrestrial wireless transceiver andbeamform the uplink wireless signal based on the geometric orientation.18. The airborne wireless transceiver of claim 16 wherein: the radio isto wirelessly receive the uplink beamforming instruction that indicatesan uplink Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI); and the control circuitry isto beamform the uplink wireless signal based on the uplink PMI.
 19. Theairborne wireless transceiver of claim 16 further comprising: the radioto wirelessly receive a downlink wireless signal from a terrestrialwireless transceiver; the control circuitry to determine downlinkbeamforming metrics based on the downlink wireless signal; the controlcircuitry to generate a downlink beamforming instruction based on thedownlink beamforming metrics; and that radio to wirelessly transmit thedownlink beamforming instruction to the terrestrial wirelesstransceiver.
 20. The airborne wireless transceiver of claim 16 furthercomprising: the control circuitry to determine an altitude of theairborne wireless transceiver; the control circuitry to generate adownlink beamforming instruction based on the altitude; and that radioto wirelessly transmit the downlink beamforming instruction to theterrestrial wireless transceiver.